Method of and machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes



E. J. RAY

Get. 21, 1947.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OF PLATFORM SHOES Filed June 24, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l In venfm: FugeneJRay METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OE PLATFORM SHOES Filed June 24, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvenior Eugene J. Ray

zftorney E. J. RAY

Oct. 21, m7.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OF- PLATFORM SHOES Filed June 24, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 in Vania I Eug enecZ Rady 5y 2150 me Oct. 21, '1947. E. J. RAY 2,429,276

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OF PLATFORM SHOES Filed June 24, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fizienfor lyqyeneczfaqy Patented Oct. 21, 1947 METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR TURNING THE PLATFORM COVERS OF PLATFORM SHOES Eugene J. Ray, Beverly, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,

Flemington,

N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application June 24, 1944, Serial No. 541,866

30 Claims.

This invention relates to methods of and machines for turning the platform covers of platform shoes. For a disclosure of this type of shoe reference may be had to United States Letters Patent No. 2,341,675, granted February 15, 1944, on an application filed in the name of John J. Walsh. Such shoes are characterized by a relatively thick midsole r platform interposed between the insole and the outsole and having its edge covered with sheet material which has first been stitched to the upper and the insole and which is later laid and secured under the edge of the platform. Before the cover can be laid and secured under the platform, however, it must first be turned-down from the upright position in which it was stitched. The operation of turning the cover is often performed after a last has been inserted in the shoe and after the platform has been applied, Inasmuch as the cover usually hugs the upper of the shoe tightly, the cover cannot be turned without considerable difiiculty and often it can be turned only by the use of pincers. In any case, the operation as heretofore carried out is laborious and time-consuming.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method whereby platform covers may be easily and quickly turned. This method, as will presently be shown, may be carried out by applying a force heightwise against the bottom of the shoe in opposition to an oppositely directed force applied simultaneously at separated localities of the margin of the platform cover. The margin of the cover may, as disclosed herein, be bent outwardly to facilitate the rolling back of the cover upon itself.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for turning platform covers. In accordance with this object, the machine disclosed herein is provided with means for gripping the margin of a platform cover and with means for effecting a relative movement between the shoe and the gripping means in a direction heightwise of the shoe to turn the cover down. The illustrative machine shown herein is provided with gripper jaws for holding the margin of the cover and with a movable abutment in the form of a plunger which pushes against the bottom of the shoe to move the shoe bodily heightwise while the gripper jaws hold the margin of the cover in 0pposition to the movement of the shoe to cause the cover to be turned down. The gripper jaws, furthermore, are so manipulated as to turn the margin of the cover outwardly to facilitate its rolling back upon itself. The illustrative machine is provided with means for moving the plunger and for closing the gripper jaws in timed relation.

These and other novel features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the upper portion of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a large scale rear elevation of the cover gripping instrumentalities at the beginning of their operation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line VV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a large scale sectional view taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 1;

Fig-7 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figs. 6 and '7 Fig. 9 is a large scale front elevation of one of the pincer units;

Fig. 10 is a corresponding side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the heel end of a shoe at the beginning of the operation;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing a later stage of the operation;

Fig. 13 is a View siimlar to Fig. 12 showing a still later stage of the operation;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the heel end of the inverted shoe showing the operation at the stage indicated in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a View similar to Fig. 13 showing the position of the platform cover at the end of the operation; and

Fig. 16 is a View in front elevation, looking at the heel end of the shoe, showing the position of the platform cover at the end of the operation.

The operating instrumentalities of the illustrated machine consist of two pairs of pincer jaws 20 and 22 (Fig. 2) for gripping and turning the marginal portion of a platform cover, and a presser head 24 which engages the shoe bottom and pushes the shoe while the cover is gripped by the pincers to complete the turning of the cover. The supporting structure of the machine consists of an upright hollow housing or frame 25 which rises from a base28 and which carries a pair of upwardly extending side plates 30 and 32.

The pairs of jaws 20 and 22 are carried by a swinging frame or block 34 having a pair of arms 36 and 38 which are supported for rotation about an axis passing approximately through the tips of each of the pairs of pincer jaws when the jaws are closed. The arm 36 terminates in a hub 46, and the arm 38 terminates in a hub 42, said hubs being fixed by screws 43 to a pivot in the form of a pair of trunnion pins 44 and 46, respectively. These trunnion pins are journaled in bearings 48 and 50 which, in turn, are carried by the side plates 36 and 32, respectively. A more detailed description of the jaw mechanism will be given later.

The presser head 24 consists of a fiat plate (Figs, 13 and 14) having a rounded end to conform generally to the end of a shoe bottom. It is secured by a screw 23 to a lug 25 formed on a horizontally oifset portion 52 of a downwardly extending rod or shank 54 (Figs. 2 and 4). The screw 23 is threaded into the head 24 and extends through a slot formed in the lug 25 in a direction to provide for adjustment of the head lengthwise of the shoe. A tongue-and-groove connection 55 (Fig. 16) maintains the head 24 in proper alinement on the lug 25. The shank 54 is slidable heightwise in a tubular guideway '56 supported by a she1f 60 that connects the side plates 36 and 32. The offset portion 52 extends through a slot 53 formed in the wall of thetubular guideway 56. The slot 53 has a spiral portion which operates as acam to turn the head 24 outwardly to an out-of-the-way position when the shank rises and to turn the head inwardly to a position wherein it may engage the shoe bottom as the shank descends. The head 24,'offset 52, and shank 54 constitute a unitary assembly which will later be referred to as a plunger. A compression spring 58 (Fig. 4) surrounding the plunger shank 54 has its lower end in abutting engagement with a bushing 6| secured in the lower portion of the guideway 56. The upper end of the spring 58 is in abutting engagement with a collar 62 secured to the shank 54 and slidable with the shank in the guideway. The thrust of the spring normally maintains the shank in an upper position determined by a collar 64 secured upon the lower end of the shank and engagin the lower end of the 'guideway 56.

The power for operating the above-mentioned instrumentalities is derived from a treadle 66 (Fig. 1) pivotally mounted upon a fulcrum pin 68 secured in a pair of spaced upright frame members 84 and 86 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) which are bolted to the base 28 of the housing. Journaled in the treadle 66 at an intermediate portion thereof is a pulley about which is looped a cable I2 one end portion of which extends upwardly and is anchored to a pin I4 secured in the housing 26 while the other end, also extending upwardly, passes partly around and is secured to a pulley I6 by a clamp IT (Fig. 8). A shaft 18 carries the pulley I6 and is journaled in bearings 80 and 82 formed in the upright frame members 84 and 88 (Fig. 7).

Also carried upon the shaft 18 is a pulley 88 to which one end of a cable BI] is secured by a clamp 9|. The cable 90 extends upwardly over a pulley 92 (Figs. 1 and 2) and then downwardly, a weight 94 being secured to the downwardly extending end of the cable. Swinging movement of the weight 94 is prevented by stationary guides having flanges 95 which are slidingly engaged by grooves formed in the sides of the weight. The pulley 92 is mounted for free rotation on a bolt carried by a bracket -96 (Fig. 2) secured to and 4 depending from the shelf 60. The shaft I8 also carries a, pair of earns 98 and I60 (Figs. 1 and 8). These cams, as well as the pulleys I6 and 88, are secured to the shaft I8 so that the shaft, the two cams, and the two pulleys all rotate as a unit, Secured in the frame members 84 and 86 is a crosspin I02 which serves as afulcrum for a pair of arms I04 and I06 (Fig 6). Carried by the arm I64 (Fig. 8) is a cam roll I68 which engages the periphery of the cam 98 to control the movement of the arm I64. The arm I06 carries a roll H6 which engages the periphery of the cam I66 to control the movement of the arm I66. Secured by a block III pivoted in the outer or forward end of the arm I04 is the lower end of a cable I I2 the upper end of which is secured to a pulley II 4 (Fig. 2) mounted on the hub 40. Also mounted on the hub 40 and adjacent to the pulley 'I I4 is a pulley II6 to which is secured the upper end of a chain II8 having its lower end secured to the upper end of a tension spring I 29. The lower end of the spring I20 is secured to a pin I22 which is fastened to the housing 26. It is evident that the tension of the spring I29 operating through the chain II8 will exert an upward pull on the cable II2, tending to maintain the roll I 08 against the cam 98 and the frame 34 in a position of rotation determined by a stop I2I (Figs, 1 and 8) formed on the cam 98. The stop I2I consists of an extension which, when engaged by the roll I08, will positively prevent further rotation of the cam under the influence of the weight 94.

Pivotally mounted in the outer or forward end of the arm I06 is a block I23 to which is secured the lower end of a cable I24. The upper end of the cable I24 is secured to a tension spring I26 (Fig. 2) which, in turn, is secured to the lower end of the rod 54.

The pincer jaws 20 (Figs.'3, 9 and 10) are carried by a supporting block I28 which is hinged upon a pintle I30. The pincer jaws 22 are similarly mounted in a supporting block I32 which is hinged upon a pintle I34. The pintles I30 and I34 are both mounted in pairs of ears I33'extending from a plate I35 which, in turn, is rigidly secured to the bracket 34. The pintles I30 and I34 are parallel and extend in a direction which is longitudinal with respect to the gripper, jaws that is, with respect to the shanks of the gripper jaws when the jaws are closed.

The two pairs of pincers are similar and only one will be described in detail. The pincer 20, for example, consists of a relatively stationary jaw I36 integral with the support I28 and a relatively movable jaw I38 fulcrumed upon a pin I40 secured between ears I4I extending from the support I28. The jaw I38 has a flat serrated terminal portion I31 of triangular outline for gripping the work againsta similar terminal portion of the jaw I36. Inasmuch as the jaw I36, at the beginning of the operation, must be between the platform cover and the last (or the shoe upper), its terminal gripping portion has a wedge-shaped extension I39 to facilitate the introduction of the work. The movable jaw I38 has 5, depending tail I42 which is engaged by a cam surface I44 on a wedge-shaped cam I46 mounted 'forlongitudinal movement in a guideway of the support I28 and retained therein by a cover plate I48. The cam I46 has a shank I50 the lower end of which has an offset portion I6Il. Secured in this offset portion I69 is a pin I62 having a rounded or knobshaped head. Interposed between one of the pintle'beari'ngs of the support I28 and the offset I60 is a weak compression spring I64 which tends to maintain the cam I46 down in its inoperative position. While the operating cam is thus held down, the jaw I38 is held in open position by a light, relatively weak torsion spring I66. The compression spring I64 serves also as a torsion spring (Fig. 3), having outwardly extendin end portions I61 which bear against the plate I35 and the shank I 50, respectively, to maintain the gripper jaw assembly yieldingly in a stopped position of rotation about the axis of the pintle I30, as shown in Fig. 3. In the illustrated machine, this stopped position is determined by the block I28 striking against the edge of the plate I35.

The pincer 22 has similar parts, including a pin I68 (Fig. 3) which is like the pin I62. An equalizing bar I is fulcrumed at its middle portion upon a pin I12 carried by a pair of ears I14 which extend upwardly from a lever I16 (see also Fig. 5). The equalizing bar I10 has its end portions bearin against the knob-shaped heads of the pins I62 and I68. The lever I16 is fulcrumed upon a pin I18 secured in the arm 36. The arm 38 has formed in it a guideway for guiding a slide I80 in a path which is radial with respect to the axis of the trunnions 44 and 46. The upper end of the slide I80 carries a cam roll I82 (Figs. 3 and 5) which engages the periphery of a stationary cam I84 mounted upon lugs extending from the side plate 32, and the lower end of the slide is notched to receive the free end of the lever I16. A pin I85 retains the lever I16 within the notched portion of the slide I 80. A tension spring I86 (Fig. 3) anchored at its upper end in the plate I35 and secured at its lower end to a lug extending from the ear I14 yieldingly maintains the cam roll I82 against the cam I84. The spring I86 is strong enough, when permitted by the cam [84, to overcome the springs I64 and I66. As shown in Fig, 5, the cam I84 has a rise I 88 at the bottom, a rise I90 at the top, and a low intermediate portion.

The operation of the above-described machine and the manner of performing the above-mentioned method upon a shoe will now be explained. The shoe, which is shown as mounted upon a last L, comprises a platform sole P having a wedge heel W cemented to one face and a sock lining S cemented to its other face. Stitched to the sock lining S close to the edge of the platform sole P is a platform cover C. Although the illustrated shoe is of the open heel type wherein the rear portion of the upper consists merely of a heel strap, it should be understood that the following explanation applies also to ordinary closedback shoes. The cover 0 may, as shown in Fig. 11, have a coating of adhesive A along its margin to secure the cover in position after it has been lasted under the platform by a subsequent operation. A similar coating of adhesive A may be applied to the wedge heel W. An outsole (not shown) will be applied later.

The operator presents the heel end of the shoe by hand to the machine, holding the shoe inverted and manipulating it to insert the tips I39 of the stationary jaws I36 between the cover C and the upper U (or the last L if the upper is entirely cut away at that locality). This stage of the operation is shown in Figs. 3 and 11. He then depresses the treadle 66 and causes rotation of the cam shaft 18 in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The first effect of the rotation of the cam 98 is to swing the pincer frame 34 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, causing the cam roll I82 to roll down the rise I88 at the 6 bottom of the cam I84 and thereby to permit the spring I86 yieldingly to close the movable jaws I38 of the pincers. Both pincer units 20 and 22 are thus closed to grip the margin of the cover at separated localities. While the pincers are closing, rotation of the cam I00 moves the plunger rod 54 down in the guide tube 56, the guide slot 53 causing the plunger to turn and swing the plunger head 24 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to a position directly above the shoe bottom. This movement of the plunger, which serves merely to bring the plunger head into operating position, takes place quickly. By the time the pincer jaws have closed to grip the work, the head 24 has come down into engagement, or almost into engagement, with the shoe bottom. Continued depression of the treadle causes further swinging movement of the pincer frame 34 and it also causes the plunger head 24 swinging movement of the pincer frame continues until the cam roll I82 comes almost to the rise I90 at the top of the cam I84, causing the pincers to bend the margin of the cover outwardly and thereby to turn the margin of the cover C from the position shown in Fig. 11 through the positions shown in Figs. 12 and 13 to the position shown in Fig. 15. It will be observed that the pincer frame, while pivotally mounted in the bearings 48 and 50, is held against translatory movement, and that the pincers themselves are therefore held against translatory movement. Since the axis of the trunnion pins 44 and 46 passes approximately through the tips of the pincer jaws, the swinging movement of the pincers will be outward or away from the last. The pintles I30 and I34 permit the pincer units 20 and 22 to turn in response to the increasing tension in the margin of the cover C. Without such freedom of pivotal movement about the pintles I30 and I34, the pincer units might develop an excessive tension in that portion of the cover that lies between them as they turn the margin of the cover over. The cam 08 is designed to cause the pincer frame 34 to dwell with the roll I82 just below the rise I90.

While the marginal portion of the cover is thus being rolled over by the pincers, the downward stroke of the plunger head 24 moves the body portion of the shoe down to pull the cover through the position shown in Fig. 13. The cam I00 is designed to continue the downward yielding pressure of the plunger until the pincer frame 34 reaches the dwell position above mentioned. The cover, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, is now completely turned and is stretched tight with a tension determined by the spring I26.

Continued depression of the treadle 66 serves to relieve the downward pressure of the plunger head 24 while the pincers remain stationary for a short while in their dwell position. This relief of pressure on the shoe bottom is obtained by a slight depression in the cam I00; and the plunger, while it may rise slightly, does not travel far enough up the slot 53 to turn to its out-of-theway position. The plunger now begins a brief dwell while the pincer frame 34 resumes its swinging movement, causing the roll I812 to ride up on the cam rise I90 and open the pincer jaws to release the shoe.

Downward movement of the treadle 66 is stopped by engagement of the treadle with the base 28 of the machine before the cam shaft 18 has made a complete revolution. The operator then releases the treadle and thereby permits '7 the weight 9'4 to rotate the cam shaft 18in a counterclockwise direction until all the parts of the machine have retraced their movements and arrived at their initial positions.

After the heel portion of the cover C has thus been "turned, the operator presents the toe end of the shoe to the machine and in a similar manner turns the toe end. The portions of the cover between the ends of the shoe will either turn naturally with the end portions or will offer substantially no resistance to turning by hand after the end portions have been turned.

The operation may, if desired, be performed first upon the toe end of the cover and then upon the heel end.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method 'of turning the platform covers of platform shoes which consists in holding the margin of the platform cover of a shoe at separated localities adjacent to an end of the shoe while said margin is directed toward the top of the shoe and in bodily moving the shoe heightwise by pressure applied to the shoe bottom while the margin of the cover is thus held to reverse the direction of said margin relatively to the shoe.

2. The method of turning the platform covers of platform shoes which consists in holding the margin of the platform cover of a shoe at separate localities, in bodily moving the shoe heightwise by pressure applied to the shoe bottom while the margin of the cover is thus held, and in turning outwardly the margin of the cover to facilitate the rolling back of the cover upon itself as the cover is being turned.

3. The method of turning the platform covers of platform shoes which consists in gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe at different localities at one end of the shoe While said margin is directed toward the top of the shoe and in causing relative heightwise movement between the body of the shoe and the margin of the cover while the margin is thus gripped to reverse the direction of said margin relatively to the shoe, and in repeating this operation at the other end of the shoe.

4. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising a gripper for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe While it lies against the upper of the shoe, an abutment'engageable with the bottom of the shoe, and means for moving said abutment against the bottom of the shoe to move the shoe while maintaining the gripper in gripping engagement with the margin of the cover to turn the cover and cause its margin to extend away from the shoe bottom in the opposite direction.

- 5. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising means for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe, an abutment engageable with the shoe bottom, a treadle, and mechanism operated by said treadl'e for causing the gripping means to grip a work piece and for causing relative movement between the'gripping means and the'abutment in a direction heightwise of the shoe to'turn thecover while the work piece is thus gripped.

6.'A machine for turning the'platform covers of platform shoes comprising a, pair of jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover of' a shoe, an abutment engageable with the bottom of the shoe, means for moving'said abutment against the bottom of the shoe to cause heightwise movement of the shoe while maintaining 8 the j'awsin gripping engagement with the margm :of the cover to turn the cover, and means foriturning the jaws toroll the cover back upon itself as the cover isbeing turned.

7. A machine for turning the platform covers of'platform shoes comprising a pair 'of jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe, an abutment engageable with the bottom 'of the shoe, and means for closing the jaws to cause them to grip the margin of the cover while said margin extends from the shoe bottom toward the top of the shoe and for moving said abutment against the shoe bottom in timed relation to the closing of the jaws while maintaining the jaws in gripping engagement with the margin of the cover to turn the cover and cause said margin to extend away from theshoe bottom in the opposite direction.

8. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe, a support for said jaws, an abutmentengageable with the bottom of the shoe, means for-closing thejaws to cause them to grip the margin of the cover and for causing relative movement heightwise of the shoe between the abutment and the gripping jaws to turn the cover, and a pivotal mounting for the support arranged to enable the jaws to swing outwardly tofacilitate the rolling back of the cover upon itself as it is being turned.

9. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe, a block upon which said jaws are supported, an abutment engageable with the bottom of the shoe, means for closing the jaws to cause them to grip the margin of the cover and for causing relative movement heightwise of the shoe between the abutment and the gripping jaws to turn the cover, and means for swinging said block to cause the jaws to roll the cover outwardly and back upon itself as it is being turned.

10. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising a pair of pivotally connected jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe, a block upon which said jaws are supported, an abutment engageable with the bottom of the shoe, means for closing the jaws to cause them to grip the margin of the cover, means for causing the abutment to push against the shoe bottom while the jaws are holding the margin of the cover to turn the cover, and means for swinging said block outwardly of the shoe about an axis which passes approximately through the tips of the jaws to facilitate the rolling back-of the cover upon itself as it is being turned.

11. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising 'a pair of pivotally connected jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe, a block upon which said jaws are supported, a pivotal mounting for said block having its axis passing approximately through the tips of the closed jaws, an abutment engageable with the bottom of the shoe, means for causing the abutment to push against the shoe bottom and for swinging the block outwardly of the shoe about said pivotal mounting, a stationary cam, and mechanism on said block operated'by the cam to cause the jaws to close as the 'block swingsythe swinging movement of the biockser'ving to facilitate the rolling back on itself of the platform cover while the closed mately through the tips of the jaws, a plunger engageable with the bottom of the shoe, means for causing the plunger to push against ,the shoe bottom and for swinging the block outwardly of the shoe about said axis, a spring tending to close the jaws, a stationary cam, and mechanism on the block co-operating with the cam normally to hold the jaws open against the force of said spring, said cam being designed to permit the spring to close the jaws during the beginning of the swinging movement of the block, whereupon the jaws will grip th margin of the cover and then turn the margin of the cover outwardly as the block swings and while the plunger pushes the shoe to complete the turning of the cover.

13. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising means for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe, means engageable with the shoe bottom for pushing the shoe to cause the cover to be turned while the margin of the cover is held by the gripping means, and a common mechanism for operating said gripping means and said pushing means, said mechanism including a cam through which the gripping means is operated and a cam through which the pushing means is operated, said cams being designed to cause the gripping means and the pushing means to operate in timed relation to each other.

14. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising means for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe, means engageable with the shoe bottom for pushing the shoe to cause the cover to be turned while the margin of the cover is held by the gripping means, a shaft, means for turning said shaft, a pair of cams secured on said shaft for rotation therewith as a unit, mechanism operated by one of said cams for closing the gripping means, and mechanism operated by the other cam for causing the pushing means to exert a thrust against means, a trunnion support upon which the grip ping means is mounted for swinging movement, means for swinging the gripping means outwardly of the shoe to turn the cover back upon itself and for causing the pushing means to exert a thrust against the shoe bottom to complete the turning of the cover, a stationary cam, and mechanism carried by the gripping means and cooperating with said stationary cam to cause said gripping means to close at the beginning of the swinging movement of the gripping means.

16. In a machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, a pair of jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover, a pivotal connection between said jaws to provide for opening and closing movements, a rigid support for said jaws, and a hinge between said jaws and said 10 support for enabling said jaws to turn about an axis which extends longitudinally of the jaws.

17. In a machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, two pairs of jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe at spaced localities, a common rigid support for said pairs of jaws, and a hinge between each pair of jaws and said support, said hinges having parallel axes extending in a direction to permit turning of each set of jaws in response to the tension of the cover.

18. In a machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, a pair of jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover, a pivotal connection between said jaws to provide for opening and closing movements, a support for said jaws, and a pivotal mounting for said support having its axis extending approximately through the tips of the jaws in a direction transverse to the jaws to permit the jaws to make a swinging movement to turn the margin of the platform cover outwardly.

19. In a machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, two pairs of jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe at spaced localities, a common support for said jaws, a trunnion mounting for said support having its axis extending approximately through the tips of the jaws, and means for swinging said support about said trunnion mounting to cause the jaws to turn the margin of the platform cover outwardly.

20. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising two pairs of jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe at spaced localities, a common support for said pairs of jaws, and means for effecting a relative movement between the shoe and the support in a direction heightwise of the shoe to turn the cover.

21. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising two pairs of jaws for gripping the marginal portion of aplatform cover of a shoe at spaced localities, a common support for said pairs of jaws, a plunger engageable with the bottom of the shoe, and means for causing said plunger to push the shoe heightwise while the marginal portion of the cover is held by said jaws.

22. A machine for turnin the platform covers of platform shoes comprising two pairs of jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shoe at spaced localities, a block on which said pairs of jaws are mounted, a pair of trunnions upon which said block is mounted for swinging movement about an axis which passes approximately through the tips of the jaws of each pair when the jaws are closed, means for closing the jaws to cause them to grip the cover, means for turning the block about said trunnions to change the direction in which the jaws point and thereby to cause the jaws to turn the margin of the cover outwardly, and means for pushing against the shoe bottom While the cover is gripped by the jaws to complete the turning of the cover.

23. In a machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes, a carrier, a relatively stationary gripper jaw mounted on said carrier, a relatively movable gripper jaw pivotally mounted on said carrier to open and close relatively to the stationary jaw, a weak sprin tending normally to maintain said movable jaw open, said movable jaw having a tail, a slide mounted in a guideway in the carrier, said slide having a wedgeshaped end which engages the tail of the movable e eee are jaw to close the jaw, a strongspring tending to urge said slide into jaw-closing; position, and operating means constructed and. arranged normally to holdjsaid slideout of jaw-closingposition, and, to permit said spring, at the beginning of the operation to move the slide yieldingly into jawclosing; position.

24-. In amachine for turning the platform covers of platform, shoes, a carrier, a gripping mechanism comprising a relatively stationary gripper jaw mounted on said carrier, a relatively movable gripper jaw pivotally mounted on said carrier. to,- open andcloserelatively to the stationary jawpa weakspring'tending normally to maintain, said movable jaw open, said'movablejaw having a tail, a slide mounted in a guideway in the carrier, said slide having a wedge-shaped end, which engages the tail of the movable jaw to close the jaw, and a weak spring normally holding said. slide out of jaw-closingposition, a second gripping mechanism similar to the first-mentioned gripping mechanism and spaced therefrom, with the slides of bothmechanisms parallel to each other, anoperating member, an equalizing bar; pivotally mounted at its; middle, portion on said operating member and engaging near itsends the endsoftheslides opposite to the wedge-shaped ends, a strong spring tending to cause said operating member toexert a thrust through the equalizing bar upon each of the slides to urge the slides into jaw-closing position, means for normally holding said operating member against said strong spring, and means for releasing the operating member to the action of the strong spring to operate the gripping mechanisms 25.- Ina machine for turning the platform covers, ofpiatform shoes, a plunger having, a, shank and,- a heads offsetfrom said shank for engagin a shoe: bottom, and, a: tubular guideway in which the shank is movable longitudinally, said guideway having a cam slot-in its wall, and means on said' plunger engaging said slot to turn the plungor as the shank moves longitudinally inthe gui'deway, said slot being shaped to swing the head from an o'ut-of-the-way position. into a, position wherein the head may engage the shoe as the shank is moved longitudinally tomove the head toward theshoe-bottom.

I 26. In a machine for turning the platform covers, of platform shoes, a plunger having a shank andja head offset fromsaid shank for engaging a shoebottom, and; having also a connecting portion between the head and the shank, a cylindrical guideway in which the shank is movable longitudinally, said guideway having a slot in. its wall throughiwhich the connecting portionof the plunger extends, said slot being shaped to turn the. plunger and thereby to swing the head from, an out-of-the-way position into a position wherein it may engage a shoe bottom as the shank is moved longitudinally, a spring acting upon the plunger normally to maintain the shank in said out-of-the-way position in said guideway, and means for-moving said shank longitudinally in said: guideway to bring the head into operative engagement with a shoe bottom.

27. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising means for grippin the margin of the platform cover of a shoe, a pivotal mounting for said gripping means, means for turning the gripping meansabout said pivotal mounting to bend outwardly the margin of the platform cover to partially turn the cover, and means for effecting relative heightwise movement between the gripping means and the shoe to completetheturning of the cover.

28. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising a pair of jaws for gripping the margin of a platform cover of a shee a support for holding said jaws against translatory movement, and means operable while the margin of the cover is gripped by said jaws to move the shoe in a direction to cause the cover tobeturned.

29. A machine for turning the platform covers of platform shoes comprising a pair of jaws for gripping the margin, of a platform cover of a platform shoe, a support for holding the, jaws against translatory movement, a, pivot in said support for enabling the jaws to perform a rotary movement, and means operable while the margin of the cover is gripped by said jaws to move the shoe in a direction to cause the cover to be turned.

30'. A, machine for turning the platform covers of latform. shoes comprising a pair of jaws for grippingthe margin of a platform cover of a shoe,

the cover to be turned.

EUGENE J. RAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following, references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 663,771 McFeely Dec. 11, 1900 2,393,991 Kamborian Feb. 5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain July 30, 1931 

